"Designer" is a broad term. What does the "designer" design?

Interior designer. She provides floor plans, interior elevations, reflected ceiling plans, etc. Her package is quite extensive but only deals with the interior of the home.

Your contractor may not be considering whole home structural shear and seismic reinforcements which an old structure like that will very likely need. You need more than an engineer or interior designer, or general contractor, all working separately on their bits. You need a big picture ”keeper” of the whole, fully integrated parts, all together. Responsible for all of the parts fitting and working. That person would be an architect in the US.

In Canada, an architectural technologist may possibly provide what you need. I‘d want their input on the renovation as a whole. It is extensive enough that in most places, a teardown would be less costly. Local regulation may not skew that way in your case though.

If the AHJ permitting office is telling the GC so, then you must need one, or another professional acceptable by your AHJ that will produce the documents they want to see. Probably has to do with new windows/doors altering the look of the exterior elevations, a full gut, percentage of house being remodeled, etc.

If 'the team' of you, your GC, and your interior designer feel you can accomplish this gut without the services of an architect, and the AHJ doesn't require one (as previously thought) that is perfectly fine and done more often without than with an architect. A structural engineer can provide any certification where required for structural changes. That just means that for a successful project, 'the team' has to lead the engineer through the design process, and coordinate the design for all regulations, systems, and materials in the way that an architect would.

Are you changing the exterior facade? Is the project subject to historic review and approval?

The home does not have any historical designations and is 100-120 years old. We are recladding parts of the facade where cedar and would shingles have rotted. We are also adding large glass windows across the back of the home and making the front doorway larger

You are definitely going to need to reinforce the structure to handle large glass windows. Are you sure that a teardown isn't the better option? In the absence of any historical designations, that would seem to be pretty strongly on the table. Especially since you seem to not want anything to do with the charm of an old house.

Worthy is local to you. Heed his advice.

Where I live ( coastal So Cal ).you would …. especially for permits.

Yes, you need an architect. You might also need an engineer, depending on what needs to be done. Any time you're changing the façades, the foundation, the roof line, an architect is wise. If you were just relocating walls in the interior, then a designer and an engineer is probably sufficient.

No architect is needed by the AHJ in Ontario. Perhaps your interior designer doesn't know about the less expensive alternatives I noted in my first post.

Toronto Edwardian Photo: Urbaneer

Even if a teardown is less expensive than a renovation--and that's a big if--the committee of adjustment process (likely a new design wouldn't meet current zoning requirements) and neighbourhood opposition can make your life hell on earth. FWIW, if you wanted to demolish the home above, I'd be the first to sign the petition against it. (And I've made a living tearing down old TO homes to build new ones.)

Appreciate the advice worthy and please don’t worry, I’ll be building this up not tearing it down. Needs some love but we’re excited to restore it and modernize the interior.

Apologies for the screen grabs, it’s my first day on the internet. Thanks again to everyone for weighing in, it’s a big process to unpack

If your GC wants an architect, you'd better get one. I'd take his recommendation.

I lived near a client that owned horses. One horse would fall down and not be able to get back up on its own. For some reason my client felt he needed an architect to help pick up his horse.

Just be very careful to not remuddle that into something hybrid and awful, whichnis too often done. You don’t sound like you actually like the house, which is slways a danger to it‘s bones. I’d rather see it torn down than ”modernized” into a nightmare structure. Which is why you need the architect. Think restoration and preservation first. Live lightly, as a steward to the next generation.

https://www.aconcordcarpenter.com/remodel-or-remuddle.html

http://www.timandersenarchitect.com/Remodel-or-Remuddle.html

https://www.oldhouseguy.com/old-house-restoration-or-remuddling/

Warning: Verbo's last link is a painful read.

Needs some love but we’re excited to restore it and modernize the interior.

Define modernize the interior please. I'm hoping you don't mean to gut what gives old homes character and beauty. Or whitewash all old woodwork. Or make it "open concept".

When you do things like that to old houses with character, you actually lower the future value and resale.

I'm hoping you don't mean to gut what gives old homes character and beauty.

Faint hope, I fear. Aside from gutting right to the brick, i.e., removing all interior trim, fp etc. even the fenestration is at risk. I see it now: black window frames with "empty eye" windows in place of the original look. So even a facade of authenticity and heritage is lost.

Nailed it! White paint, black windows, open concept, can’t wait!! I’ll take it from here.

Perhaps the question is if an architect needs you??

Ugh, I just viewed a home that sold around the corner from me. Let me preface this by saying that all the homes in my area were built in the 1920s, so Colonial and Tudor Revival. Loaded with charm--nooks/crannies, great moldings, plaster walls, well-proportioned, separate rooms. Of course they are showing their age and whoever buys them needs to offer TLC.

Well this home sold for about $1.5Million, and was "renovated sparing no expense." At first glance, it looks ok. The exterior hasn't been changed, so the look of the neighborhood is still intact. But on looking more closely, it's very disheartening. Here's a link to the listing with photos: https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/ny/rockville-centre/24-eton-rd/pid_43555597/

So they took down lots of walls, there's no foyer anymore, removed the original strip hardwood flooring and replaced it with what looks to be wood-look tile, got rid of the formal dining room and sunroom, whitewashed every square inch of it, and removed any vestige of charm it may have once had. "Open concept" is a cancer that's ruining beautiful old homes.

Such renovations mirror the dominant "transitional" style of higher-end new homes. Traditional on the outside, open concept on the inside with lots of chrome, glass and marble (ultra-thin panels on lower-end homes).

Traditional Exterior Thornhill, Ont. s. C$6.260m (18 Oct. '21)

(Previously owned by Dragon Den star, merchant banker Michael Werkele.)

"Modern" Interior

It's getting so that's the best old house fans can hope for.

Built by craftsmen, remuddled by the employed.

Eh. There’s a difference between renovating and restoring. Most families want up-to-date amenities and chopped up old Victorians and Colonials just don’t cut it. If the house is on the historic register, then by all means don’t mess with it and restore it to it’s original glory. But if it’s not, do what works for you.

I agree people get to do what they want if not historic. I love open concept and actually adore a more traditional outside with a surprise open concept modern in. To each their own

Just because a home hasn't been placed on a community's "historic register" doesn't mean it's not worthy of respect. Many homes in my town are 90-120 years old, built by craftsmen, full of charm, and unique. So they aren't designated "historic" as such, but they are valuable and indicative of a time and place that shouldn't be forgotten. If you want a quasi-traditional home on the outside and an open layout inside, then go build or buy one. Don't buy one of these gems and then proceed to ruin it.

Off my soapbox now.

Luckily homeowners don’t care about soapboxes and do what they want within the constraints on their homes. You know as the owners…

Not to be a contrarian, but you’ll note there are some very modern and architecturally innovative buildings in European cities hundreds of years old. You can mix old and new. I don’t see this principle as any different when you’re working with a single residence. I’m in the midst of a kitchen renovation on an SF home built in the twenties. While we went with a modern Craftsman look for the kitchen, we definitely opened the walls between the dining room and the kitchen. It’s a far better layout and much easier to live and entertain in. I don’t think it ruined anything and in fact made a huge improvement.

Unfortunately this home hadn’t been maintained well enough on the interior to lend itself to a more traditional restoration. The “charm” of its “nooks and crannies” include a closed in kitchen, a servery and a servants staircase - vestiges of a patriarchal era that I have no interest in preserving. Where I can preserve some things I will and there is nothing disrespectful about giving this house the update it badly needs. An open concept main floor provides a place for our family to be together rather than apart. How families interact in 2021 is much different than how they interacted in 1920 and the home must evolve to reflect that. The outside of the home will be maintained to respect the character of the neighbourhood. I’m not a museum curator I’m a father building a home for his family and I’m confident the result will be both functional and beautiful.